Self-leveling clock.



, J. A. PIXLER. SELF LEVELING CLOCK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 2l| I916.

1,216,727. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

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J. A. PIXLER.

SELF LEVEUNG CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. l9l6.

1 ,21 6,727. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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Attorneys 101m ALBERT PIXLEB, or BENKELMAN, NEBRASKA.

SELF-LEVELING oLocK.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Feb,- 20, 1917.

, Application filed September 21,1916. Serial N0. 121,488.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN ALBERT PIXLER,

citizen ofthe United States, residing at,

Benkelman, in the county of Dundy and State of Nebraska, have invented'anew and useful Self-Leveling Clock, 0f whichth'e following is aspecification. A

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveleveling mechanism applicable to clocks with the minimum rearrangementof the essential elements thereof, and adapted to insure regularity ofpendulum movement through a comparatively wide range of positions of theclock mechanism, the adjustment of the same to different positions ofthe clock mechanism being automatic.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the inventionresides in the combi nation andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein described can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departingfrom the spirit of theinvention. In the drawing- I I Figure 1 is a front view of a clockmechanism including the leveling means embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of thesame.

Fig. 3 is a rear view.

Fig. -ft is a front view showing the positions of the parts when theclock mechanism is inclined from a vertical position.

Essentially the invention consists of a pivoted yoke 10 carrying theescapement mechanism, including the verge 11 andvescapement wheel 12,and held in its normal or proper position, to preserve a regularoperation of the pendulum 13, by a positioning weight it, the stem 15 ofwhich is connected with the spindle 16 of said yoke and said spindlebeing mounted in the front and rear plates 17 and 18 of the clockmechanism. Preferably the spindle consists of two members, a main memberlfi mounted in registering bearings in said rear plate a and a bracket19, and an auxiliary member 16 supported by the front plate, saidspindle being in axial alinement with the last time gear 20 which mesheswith the pinion 21 on the spindle of the escapement wheel.

The connection between the stem of the leveling weight and the spindleof the yoke may consist as indicated of a sleeve'22 embracing the saidspindle and provided with a socket member 23 in which the extremity ofthe stem is removably secured by set screw 24, and the yoke is providedwith a a sleeve 25 fitted upon the adjacent portion of said yoke spindleand adapted to be locked adjacent to the outer end of the sleeve 22.

Bylocking the sleeve 22 on the spindle by means of set screw 30', andsimilarly locking the yoke sleeve 25 to said spindle by means of the setscrew 26, the movementof the leveling weight will be communicateddirectly to the yoke through the spindle, the sleeve 27 under theseconditions preferably being released by loosening the set screw 28, andthe proper relative arrangement of the parts will thereby be preservedso that the motions of the pendulum communicated through the verge wire80 to the verge will result in a uniform tick or equal movements inopposite directions of the pendulum bob. However, as a means ofincreasing the accuracy and promptness of adjustment to suit differentpositions of the clock mecha nism, and particularly to insurethat theparts shall come to a position of rest at the desired adjustment withoutprolonged vibration, it is preferred to reverse the above describedadjustment of the sleeves on the spindle, tightening the set screw 28 tofasten the sleeve 27 thereto in order to prevent endwise displacement ofthe spindle and-loosening the set screws 26 and 30, so as to permit thesleeves 25 and 22 to turn looselyon the spindle, and to employ as ameans for communicating motion from the leveling weight to the yoke thefollowing devices At the lowerv end of the yoke is arranged a segmentalrack 31, with which engages, a segmental gear 32 carried by a spindle 33mounted in the front and rear plates and provided at its rear end with aradial arm 34 upon which operates a-sleeve 35 swiveled by means of a pin36 on the stem of the leveling wei ht, said stem being engaged by acollar 37 held in place by a set screw 38 and carrying a bearing inwhich the pin of the sleeve 35 is mounted. As the leveling weight movesto one side or the other, it causes a corresponding oscillation of thearm 34, said sleeve 35 sliding freely thereon, and hence a rockingmovement of the spindle 33 which is conveyed through the segmental gear32 and rack 31 to the yoke, causing the same movement thereof as wouldbe produced by movement conveyed from said weight directly through thespindle 16 as hereinbefore mentioned.

It will be observed that the parts are so arranged that the escapementwheel spindle is located, in a vertical position of the clock mechanism,directly above the spindle of the time gear 20 from which it receivesmotion, and therefore variations in the position of the clock mechanismas to the ver tical, cause but a negligible disturbance of the relationbetween the time gear and the escapement wheel, each point of the vergeentering and leaving the escapement with the same draft on each side.Thereby the accuracy of operation as a time keeper is secured.

As a further means of securing accuracy and uniformity of movement ofthe pendulum and of the escapement mechanism, the pendulum stud 39, withwhich is engaged the verge wire 30, is carried by the yoke so as to beadjusted simultaneously with and proportionately to the escapementmechanism; said stud, however, being prefe'ably disposed above andtherefore eccentrically with reference to the fulcrum of the yoke.

Obviously the tilting of the clock frame to one side or the other due toplacing the same upon a support which is not level, serves to change thepath of oscillation of the pendulum, but by the arrangement hereindescribed, the escapement is positioned by gravity actuated means topreserve the same relation between the escapement mechanism and the pathof oscillation of the pendulum, so that the transmission of movementfrom the pendulum through the verge wire to the verge remainsundisturbed by such alteration in the path of oscillation of thependulum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapementcarrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which theescapement wheel receives motion, a weight suspended from the clockframe, and connections between the weight and said yoke, for positioningthe latter to preserve a fixed relation between the escapement and thependulum.

2. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapementcarrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which theescapement wheel receives motion, and a yoke positioning weightsuspended from the spindle of the yoke.

3. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapementcarrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which theeseapement wheel receives motion, a yoke positioning weight having itsstem fulcrumed coaxially with the yoke, a rocking element having a rackand gear connection with the yoke at a point remote from its fulcrum,and means for communicating motion from the weight stem to said spindle.

1. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapementcarrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which theescapement wheel receives motion, a yoke positioning weight having itsstem fulerumed coaxially with the yoke, a rocking element having a rackand gear connection with the yoke at a point remote from its fulcrum,and a swivcled slide car ried by the weight stem engaging an arm of saidrocking element.

5. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapementcarrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which theescapement wheel receives motion, a yoke positioning weight having itsstem fulcrumed coaxially with the yoke, a rocking spindle having asegmental gear meshing with asegmental rack carried by the yokeconcentric with its fulcrum, and a sleeve swiveled upon the weight stemand having sliding engagement with an arm of said rocking spindle.

(i. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapemcntcarrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which theescapement wheel receives motion, a plumbing weight having its stemfulcrumed coaxially with the yoke, means for adjusting the yokeangularly, and means connected to an intermediate portion of the stemfor actuating said yoke adjusting means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ALBERT PIXLER.

Witnesses: F. R. WARNER, W. R. BERGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

